Views from the Choir Loft

For the Carol Enthusiasts

Veronica Brandt · November 22, 2014

APPY ST CECILIA’S DAY! I hope the day brings you much cake and song. Enjoy Aurelio’s tour of the Church of St Cecilia with Sister Margaret.

Today I thought I’d talk about books of Christmas carols. I’ve mentioned websites like Hymns and Carols of Christmas before, but nothing beats having a paper copy in your hand – or on your music stand.

Books like the Oxford Book of Carols, Faber Book of Carols and the Cambridge Carol-Book will always stand as reference books. Christmas Carols by Karl Schulte seems the most ubiquitous collection ever. The Usborne Book of Christmas Carols is good for people looking for easy piano arrangements.

Silent Night 2 is a little booklet from the Transalpine Redemptorists at Papa Stronsay. Inside are lyrics for many favourite Christmas carols reflecting something of the diversity of the monks. Available here.

But my favourite has to be A Collection of Christmas Carols. Benjamin Bloomfield has collected over 150 Christmas Carols into one book. They are all typed up with Lilypond and hosted with Github.

You can download the pdf.

You can buy a spiral bound copy through Lulu or a regular paperback through Amazon.

You can buy bulk quantities in paperback through Createspace with the wholesale discount.

All available at acollectionofchristmascarols.com.

The photo shows a paperback copy and a home printed and comb bound copy.

And if you’re thinking of buying a spiral bound copy through Lulu: Today through November 24, get 30% off all softcover books with code FLASH30 and 50% off all hardcover books with code HC50.

Remember Jeff’s list of Lulu books here.

I had a go at a list of my own favourites here (including educational and books for children).

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

About Veronica Brandt

Veronica Brandt holds a Bachelor Degree in Electrical Engineering. She lives near Sydney, Australia, with her husband and six children.—(Read full biography).

PDF Download • “Offertory” for this Sunday

This coming Sunday, 12 October 2025, is the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). Its OFFERTORY ANTIPHON (PDF) is gorgeous, and comes from the book of Esther, as did the ENTRANCE CHANT last Sunday. Depending on a variety of factors, various hand-missals (all with Imprimatur) translate this passage differently. For instance, “príncipis” can be rendered: King; Prince; Lion; or Fierce lord. None is “more correct” than another. It depends on what each translator wants to emphasize and which source text is chosen. All these pieces of plainsong are conveniently stored at the blue-ribbon feasts website.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Why A “Fugue” Here?

I believe I know why this plainsong harmonizer created a tiny fugue as the INTRODUCTION to his accompaniment. Take a look (PDF example) and tell me your thoughts about what he did on the feast of the Flight of Our Lord Jesus Christ into Egypt (17 February). And now I must go because “tempus fugit” as they say!

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Reminder” — Month of October (2025)

Those who don’t sign up for our free EMAIL NEWSLETTER miss important notifications. Last week, for example, I sent a message about this job opening for a music director paying $65,000 per year plus benefits (plus weddings & funerals). Notice the job description says: “our vision for sacred music is to move from singing at Mass to truly singing the Mass wherein … especially the propers, ordinaries, and dialogues are given their proper place.” Signing up couldn’t be easier: simply scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.

—Jeff Ostrowski

New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”

My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article (dated 12 October 2025) talks about an ‘irony’ or ‘paradox’ regarding the 1960s switch to a wider use (amplior locus) of vernacular in the liturgy.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)

The American Catholic Hymnal, with IMPRIMATUR granted (25 April 1991) by the Archdiocese of Chicago, is like a compendium of every horrible idea from the 1980s. Imagine being forced to stand all through Communion (even afterwards) when those self-same ‘enlightened’ liturgists moved the SEQUENCE before the Alleluia to make sure congregations wouldn’t have to stand during it. (Even worse, everything about the SEQUENCE—including its name—means it should follow the Alleluia.) And imagine endlessly repeating “Alleluia” during Holy Communion at every single Mass. It was all part of an effort to convince people that Holy Communion was historically a procession (which it wasn’t).

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Canonic” • Ralph Vaughan Williams

Fifty years ago, Dr. Theodore Marier made available this clever arrangement (PDF) of “Come down, O love divine” by P. R. Dietterich. The melody was composed in 1906 by Ralph Vaughan Williams (d. 1958) and named in honor of of his birthplace: DOWN AMPNEY. The arrangement isn’t a strict canon, but it does remind one of a canon since the pipe organ employs “points of imitation.” The melody and text are #709 in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal.

—Jeff Ostrowski